Get Paid What You’re Worth! 3 Simple Tips for Negotiating a Raise

Have you ever felt that your paycheck doesn’t quite measure up to your professional contribution and skill? It may be time to ask for a raise! Negotiating a raise can be a tricky topic, and many professionals avoid it for fear of sounding demanding or creating an uncomfortable situation. However, it’s often a necessary part of growing with a company and ensuring that you are paid what you’re worth. How can you use effective communication to make sure you walk away satisfied while maintaining your professional relationships? Take a look at our tips for using strong communication skills to get the raise you deserve:

Why Do You Deserve a Raise? Before asking for a raise, think about why you deserve one in the first place. Focus on what it is that you do in the company, and why you do it exceptionally well. Have a mental list of your boss’s expectations of your role in the company at the ready, so that you can demonstrate that you’ve not only met, but exceeded them. The best way to do this is to give evidence. Come to the conversation prepared with numbers and specific examples that objectively demonstrate your high performance. A statement like, “Under my management, sales have risen over 15% per quarter for the past two years,” is much harder to refute than, “I am an excellent manager.”

Do Your Research: Before walking into the negotiation, do some research on the typical salary range for your type of position in the industry as well as an expected salary path (i.e. how compensation may increase over time with experience or knowledge). Knowing whether your salary is above, below, or spot on for your position can help inform how you approach the conversation. You should also investigate the duties that are typically included in job descriptions for your type of position. If you find that you are doing more than is generally expected, can also use this to support your request.

Communicate with Clarity and Confidence: Sometimes how you make your case is just as important as what you’re actually saying. Appearing confident and professional can significantly sway the odds in your favor. During the conversation, speak at an even, relaxed pace—rushing your words will not only make it difficult for you to be understood, but you will come across as nervous and unsure of yourself. Also make sure that you are speaking as clearly as possible. Articulate each and every sound, and don’t run your words together. This will allow you to appear more educated and competent, and will also ensure that your boss understands every word you are saying.

Stay tuned: next week we’ll continue the conversation with more great tips for successfully negotiating a raise.

If your communication skills are holding you back from professional success and you want to make your communication skills your most powerful professional tool, make sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. In this free resource, I break down the myriad factors that contribute to confident communication and guide you through how to use each aspect to your advantage.

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